XENA MEDIA REVIEW (XMR) #21 Part 3 of 4 ============ CUT HERE ================== [293] 05-19-96 THE SUNDAY NEWS (Auckland). Page 30. 374 words. "Your Chance to Push Hercules' Button" By David Fisher COMMENTARY: The Xena action figure was mentioned in passing in an article about the HTLJ's action figures and a contest ran by TV3 and the SUNDAY NEWS. EXCERPT: NOW we know the secret behind Hercules star Kevin Sorbo's smooth warrior moves. In a special Sunday News play test of the latest Hercules accessory - movable part action dolls - we discovered a small button between his shoulder blades. It seems Kiwi co-star Michael Hurst, playing Iolaus, is not hiding behind our hero quivering in fear. In fact, he's frantically pushing the button needed to drive Hercules' Iron Spiked Spinning Mace' (TM) or the Herculean Assault Blades' (TM too). (Warning: These action figures pose a choking hazard and should not be consumed by children under three). At $ 14 each, these 13cm figures, lovingly based on the muscled television stars frolicking around West Auckland beaches, are now in toy shops. You'll find them on the shelves next to similarly muscled, but differently packaged, Masters Of The Universe dolls . . . er, action figures. Each figure's been modelled after its star. Sorbo, for example, did a year of rigorous weight training, horseback riding instruction and martial arts. Your action figure, if following the same tough regime, should be able to emulate these feats. Our own Lucy Lawless also figures here - note the smooth transition the wonder bra makes from real life to plastic figurine for Xena. And watch for Iolaus, Minotaur and Ares. The bad guys feature too and, at 15cm, are bigger and nastier than the goodies - the arch enemies include Hydra, Echidna (sounds like something from Taco Bell) and Cerberus. TV3 programmer Bettina Hollings told Sunday News: "Hercules is one of our highest ratings series. It's a good show for Friday nights - good escapist viewing with an element of comedy. "Obviously it's got a male skew. The genre of action-fantasy has taken off in the USA and there have been some clones popping up. We're lucky we got Hercules and Xena when we did. Xena is coming soon." Sunday News and TV3 have five Hercules dolls for you to win. Just tell us the name of the actor who plays Hercules. Send your answer, name and address to reach us by Thursday to: Hercules, Sunday News, PO Box 1074, Auckland. The first five entries drawn will win. GRAPHIC: HI DOLL: Hercules (left) and Iolaus action figures. [294] 05-20-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Page 6. 437 words. "Finale Word: "Seinfeld' Sad, "X-files' Stale" By Walt Belcher COMMENTARY: The reporter called the battle between STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE and STAR TREK: VOYAGER versus HTLJ and XWP as "Star Wars". The reporter further noted that STAR TREK shows were being overshadowed by HTLJ and XWP. People love to see a winner fail. The STAR TREK phenomenon is respected world-wide and is considered by many a THE barometer of fan interest. I personally find that XWP has already influenced ST in making its original strong females stronger. ST has always had a problem with female roles. They tried very hard with Kira, Dax and Janeway, but they lost it after several seasons. Sadly, Janeway was never quite focused, even to begin with. However, mark my words. Do not be surprised if Kira, Dax, and (oh, I hope) Janeway, suddenly take on some Warrior Princess characteristics. I have already seen evidence of it. After Xena, it is very difficult to make a strong action female character like they used to. EXCERPT: ...Star wars "Star Trek: Voyager" ends its season at 8 tonight on UPN with a cliffhanger. The crew is marooned on a nasty, volcano-ridden planet after being hijacked by the Kazon. Will they survive? Producer Paramount is worried because ratings for "Deep Space" and "Voyager" have been slipping all season. They're being overshadowed by muscle man "Hercules" and his female counterpart "Xena."... [295] 05-20-96 A FISTFUL OF DINARS. Episode no. 14. Second release. Guest stars: Jeremy Roberts and Peter Daube. Written by Steven L. Sears and R.J. Stewart. Directed by Josh Becker. COMMENTARY: See XMR152.5 for synopsis and commentary. [296] 05-23-96 through 06-05-96 NOTE: Actress Heather Matarazzo's obsession: XWP! [296a] 05-23-96 NEWSDAY. Page B03. 1111 words. "She's a Winner as a Loser / Heather Matarazzo: an Upbeat Li Teen Fills a Role as a Downbeat Nerd" By John Anderson. COMMENTARY: In a piece about the up and coming 13 year-old actress, Heather Matarazzo, who appeared in the movie "WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE", Ms. Matarazzo was reported to have said that she "wants to work with Sharon Stone or Lucy Lawless." She was further quoted asking the reporter, "Have you ever seen Xena: Warrior Princess?". EXCERPT: SHE WANTS TO GO to Yale to study film. Or to NYU and live in the East Village with a golden retriever. Or UCLA. Maybe USC. She loves acting ("This is my life") and "those brothers" (Coen). She loves Glenn Close in "Dangerous Liaisons" and wants to work with Sharon Stone. Or Lucy Lawless. Huh? "Have you ever seen Xena: Warrior Princess'?" At 13, Heather Matarazzo - star of the alternately hilarious and deeply disturbing "Welcome to the Dollhouse" (which opens tomorrow in Manhattan and has a three-week run starting June 14 at the Cinema Arts Centre in Huntington) - has plans. And a pretty good sense of herself.... [296b] 05-26-96 THE NEW YORK TIMES. Page 6-18. 750 words. "The Ugly Girl" By Laura Jamison COMMENTARY: She plans to go to New Zealand to check out XWP. EXCERPT: ...At a diner in Oyster Bay, L.I., Matarazzo recently sat picking at Belgian waffles and chatting about her brief career, occasionally digressing to comment on the virtues of her favorite bands -- Hole, Nine Inch Nails and Smashing Pumpkins -- as well as the adventure-fantasy TV series "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." "Me and my friend Erin are going to New Zealand -- that's where they're filmed -- when we're seniors on spring break, and if we like it, we'll move there for a few years." (Matarazzo also plans to live in Manhattan's East Village, California and Paris, as well as to attend Yale.)... [296c] 06-05-96 THE TORONTO SUN. Wednesday. Page 53. 554 words. "Buzz; What's Going on in Showbiz" By Bob Thompson COMMENTARY: She wants to be on XWP! EXCERPT: ...Heather Matarazzo understands that. Matarazzo plays Dawn Wiener (aka Wienerdog). "I'll get picked on for playing this role," says the 13-year-old Grade 8 student from Long Island. "But I don't care - I love acting." Not to mention Sharon Stone - "she's such a cool actress." And the syndicated New Zealand TV series, Xena: Warrior Princess. "I want to go to New Zealand to be on the show."... [297] 05-23-96 through 06-07-96 NOTE: Ratings for TIES THAT BIND (#20), 1st release, 04/29/96. Ranked 3rd action hour with 4.7 rating. Comparison with other action hours: (1) ST: DEEP SPACE 9 at 8th with 5.3; (2) HTLJ AT 13th with 5.0; (3) XWP at 16th with 4.7. [297a] 05-23-96 DAILY VARIETY. Page 5. 443 words. "KW'S 'Oprah' Outtalks Yakkers" COMMENTARY: TIES THAT BIND where Gabrielle gets to finally whack some sense into Xena earned a 4.7 rating, placing 3rd in the action-hour competition. EXCERPT: The May sweeps picture started to come into focus in the Nielsen national barter rankings during the week ended May 12, which overlapped the third week of the book... ...On the weekly action-hour front, Par's "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (5.3) led the pack, but saw its anti-matter ratings supplies drop 24% from last year. MCA TV's "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" (5.0) eased 2% year-to-year, while companion "Xena: Warrior Princess" wound up at a third-place 4.7 in her first May campaign... [297b] 06-07-96 ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. Television. "The Ratings" COMMENTARY: TIES THAT BIND, 1st release. Rated 14th with 4.7 (one rating point equals 959,000 TV households). This was the first time Entertainment Weekly did an article about the syndication ratings and mentioned XWP. The overall ranking numbers were off from the ones assigned by VARIETY. EXCERPT: ...In the drama arena, a weakened Deep Space Nine still draws enough Trekkies to power it past the one-two punch of Hercules and Xena. As for Baywatch? Well, it may finally be time for David Hasselhoff to hang up his trunks. TOP 25 SYNDICATED SHOWS RATING 1 11.3 WHEEL OF FORTUNE 2 9.6 JEOPARDY! 3 8.1 THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW 4 7.8 HOME IMPROVEMENT 5 7.1 SEINFELD 6 5.8 ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT 7 5.4 THE SIMPSONS 8 5.3 INSIDE EDITION 5.3 STAR TREK: DEEP SPACE NINE 10 5.2 WHEEL OF FORTUNE--WEEKEND 11 5.0 THE FRESH PRINCE OF BEL-AIR 5.0 HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS 13 4.9 HOME IMPROVEMENT--WEEKEND 14 4.7 XENA: WARRIOR PRINCESS 15 4.5 JENNY JONES 16 4.4 HARD COPY 4.4 ROSEANNE 18 4.3 LIVE WITH REGIS & KATHIE LEE 19 4.0 THE MONTEL WILLIAMS SHOW 4.0 RICKI LAKE 21 3.9 BAYWATCH 22 3.8 SALLY JESSY RAPHAEL 23 3.7 COPS 3.7 ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT--WEEKEND 3.7 MARRIED...WITH CHILDREN 3.7 THE MAURY POVICH SHOW WEEK OF MAY 6-12, 1996. SOURCE: NIELSEN MEDIA RESEARCH. ONE RATINGS POINT EQUALS 959,000 TV HOUSEHOLDS. [297c] 05-27-96 VARIETY. Page 31. 192 words. "Nielsen Syndication Ratings" COMMENTARY: TIES THAT BIND. Ranking disagreed with those assigned by ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY. REPRINT: For week ended May 12, 1996 Stations/ Rank Program % coverage AA% GAA% 1 Wheel of Fortune 227/99 11.3 -- 2 Jeopardy! 222/99 9.6 -- 3 Oprah Winfrey Show 235/99 8.1 8.2 4 Home Improvement 225/98 7.8 8.4 5 Seinfeld 223/98 7.1 -- 6 Entertainment Tonight 178/95 5.8 5.9 7 Simpsons 193/97 5.4 5.5 8 Inside Edition 167/94 5.3 5.4 8 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 236/99 5.3 5.6 10 Wheel of Fortune - Weekend 173/76 5.2 -- 11 WCW Wrestling 182/93 5.1 7.0 11 World Wrestling Fed. PR 161/90 5.1 6.4 13 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air 171/94 5.0 5.5 13 Journeys of Hercules 234/98 5.0 5.3 15 Home Improvement - Weekend 212/95 4.9 -- 16 Xena 210/97 4.7 4.9 17 Jenny Jones Show 214/97 4.5 4.6 18 Hard Copy 182/93 4.4 4.5 18 Roseanne 174/92 4.4 4.7 20 Live w/Regis & Kathie Lee 234/99 4.3 -- AA average refers to nonduplicated viewing for multiple airings of the same show. GAA average encompasses duplicated viewing. GAA average does not apply when there is only one run of a show. [298] 05-24-96 XENA MEDIA REVIEW. No. 8. 18 pages. 6819 words. Annotations XMR055a-068f. Edited by and annotations by Kym Masera Taborn. COMMENTARY: A world press review of coverage on XWP, Renee O'Connor, or Lucy Lawless. Covered 10/06/95 to 10/27/95. Meidel taking over at MCA; other Raimi/ Renaissance Pictures productions; and the press release for "Prometheus". Editorial covered the announcement of WHOOSH! [299] 05-24-96 MORNING STAR (Wilmington, NC). Friday. Page 1D. 797 words. "Getting out (and Coming Back) Alive; It's Ok to Take Spontaneous Beach Trips - as Long as You Plan the Spontaneity" By Clifton Daniel. COMMENTARY: In an article about how to get the most out a trip to the beach, XWP was mentioned as the alternative to going to the beach. EXCERPT: It's Memorial Day weekend, the sun's out and, for some reason, there's a bracing hint of salt spray in the air. So what should we do? Hmmm. Stay inside and read a book? Watch Saturday morning cartoons, followed by Xena, Warrior Princess? No, that's not it. Hey! Isn't there, like, a beach near here? Yes, yes, yes! Let's go to the beach! But wait. What do we take? How can we make this a positive experience, whether we're young, single and good-looking or good-looking, but old, married and toting an armload of screaming kids? Well, it would be different for everybody, wouldn't it?... [300] 05-24-96 THE ORLANDO SENTINEL. Friday. Page 1. "1 Dog A-leaping" By Joann Vitelli. COMMENTARY: Not a direct XWP reference, but perhaps a dog named after...Xena? REPRINT: GRAPHIC: Bounding after bubbles has become a favorite pastime for Xena, a 15-month-old Doberman pinscher. Deb Delk blows a bountiful batch on Thursday in Mount Dora. She says the dog loves snapping up the soapy orbs that provide the pup with great exercise. [301] 05-25-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Page 1. 962 words. "Mythical TV Heroes; They're Tan, They're Taut, They're TV Titans. Hercules, Xena and Now Beastmaster Rule the Late-night Netherworld of "Action Fantasy."" By Walt Belcher COMMENTARY: Mostly about Hercules, the article attempted to explain the rise in popularity of "action fantasy". XWP was mentioned three times in tandem with HTLJ. EXCERPT: Buckle your swashes - we're in for a wild ride. Sword-swinging musclemen and head-bashing women are taking over TV. Forget space operas such as "Deep Space Nine" and the bikini-laden "Baywatch." The hottest thing in syndicated television is called "action fantasy." It features stories that take viewers into a mysterious past where wizards and mythological beasts roam ancient Greece. Using exotic locales, computer-generated special effects and dialogue laced with humor, two new series have emerged as kick-butt kings of syndication: "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys" and its spinoff, "Xena: Princess Warrior." Their popularity has inspired others to explore the netherworld. "Beastmaster III," starring Marc Singer, debuts as a TV movie at 1 p.m. today on WTVT, Channel 13, and 11:30 tonight on WGN.... ...Syndicated programs inhabit the fringes of prime time. They are not supplied by networks. They are sold independently to TV stations usually for late-night or weekend filler. And in this realm, "Hercules," starring Kevin Sorbo as the mythical hero, is in its second season. "Xena," starring Lucy Lawless as an equally powerful hero, started in September. Both air on WTVT and WGN. These companion series, both filmed in New Zealand, manage to mix just the right amounts of action, cleavage and biceps to have large cult followings. Tongue-in-cheek humor comes in heavy doses. "We don't take ourselves too seriously," says Sorbo, who plays Herc as an articulate, good-natured hero. "I wouldn't have taken this role if all I had to do was flex muscles, because I'm not Mr. Universe," he says in a telephone interview from New Zealand. Sorbo, a 37-year-old, blue-eyed, longhaired hunk from Mound, Mont., is 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and in very good shape. "But I'm no Steve Reeves," he says, referring to a bodybuilder who played Hercules in low-budget films of the 1960s. "And I don't take off my shirt that much." However, he does do most of his own stunts, having studied martial arts. "I do most of the fight scenes but when it comes to falling off cliffs, I leave that to the stuntmen," he says. Previous film versions have portrayed Hercules as all muscle and no brain. This one is different. Hercules is a caring, kindhearted-but-tough do-gooder who battles giants and dragons. He rescues damsels in distress but resists attempts at seduction because he's pure of heart. "And he's intelligent. He laughs, he makes mistakes. And he isn't afraid to make fun of himself," Sorbo says. At times, it's almost a buddy comedy, he says, with Hercules saving his wisecracking sidekick, Iolaus (New Zealander Michael Hurst, an accomplished Shakespearean actor). Fame has slipped up on this son of a nurse and junior high school teacher. "We really didn't know how popular the show had become around the world because we were toiling away here in New Zealand," Sorbo says. Based in Auckland, "Hercules" and "Xena" weren't big deals there until recently, because New Zealand television started airing the series only three months ago. Sorbo, however, is known in New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Russia and most of Europe for a TV commercial in which he plays a rugged cowboy in a saloon who orders Jim Beam whiskey. That one has never aired in America because broadcasters here don't run liquor commercials. Sorbo says he was surprised when he took his first break last summer from "Hercules" and was nearly mobbed at a Los Angeles airport by fans shouting, "There's Hercules!" He shies away from personal questions about who he is dating. He's single and has apartments in Los Angeles and New Zealand. After working 14-hour days on the series, he relaxes by strumming his guitar. He's a James Taylor fan. He grew up one of five children in a strict Lutheran home. He went to the University of Minnesota as a marketing and advertising major but dropped out to pursue an acting career. He says he didn't get out of his hometown until he was 28. "I had a slow start. I liked the theater but I didn't have money for acting lessons," he says. "I worked as a bartender and bouncer but I hated working in smoky nightclubs." His rugged good looks led to modeling jobs, then TV commercials and finally to "Hercules." Taking the role was a risk, he says, because if it flopped, he'd be labeled as a loser. But if it succeeded, he might be labeled as Hercules forever. "I want to work in feature films. I'd like to do romantic comedy but I'll probably have to do action adventure now," he says. "But I enjoy this role. The action is balanced by the clever dialogue." (CHART) TV PREVIEW HERCULES: THE LEGENDARY JOURNEYS, XENA: PRINCESS WARRIOR and BEASTMASTER III: EYE OF BRAXUS - WHAT: "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys," starring Kevin Sorbo as the mythical hero, airs at 11:30 p.m. Thursdays on WTVT, Channel 13. It also airs at 8 p.m. Thursdays, 5 a.m. Fridays and 5 p.m. Saturdays on WGN (cable). But WGN often moves it around to fit in coverage of Chicago Cubs baseball. In the fall, it will move to midnight Saturdays on WTSP, Channel 10. - WHAT: "Xena: Princess Warrior," starring Lucy Lawless as the mighty Xena, airs at 11:30 p.m. Wednesdays on WTVT, Channel 13. It also airs at 9 p.m. Thursdays, 5 a.m. Saturdays and sometimes on Saturday afternoons on WGN (depends on baseball coverage). In the fall, it will move to WTSP, where it is tentatively scheduled for midnight Sundays. - WHAT: "Beastmaster III: Eye of Braxus" debuts at 1 p.m. today on WTVT, Channel 13, and 11:30 tonight on WGN... [302] 05-25-96 THE TAMPA TRIBUNE. Page 1. 666 words. "Reformed Villain' Cuts Men to Size" By Walt Belcher. COMMENTARY: Other than having 666 words, this article was not to be feared. A companion piece to XMR275, this article covered XWP in some limited detail. The article reported that "The producers say feminists and chauvinists both like her - but probably for different reasons. Guys are attracted to the form-fitting leather outfits and cleavage while women respect her strength and courage, Raimi says. She also has attracted a gay and lesbian following because of her strength, the campy dialogue and her relationship with her little buddy, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), Raimi says." The article also stated, "Gabrielle, smaller and blond, is Xena's adoring sidekick. Lawless jokes that she 'will neither confirm or deny' Xena's sexual preference. But the series has shown former male lovers, including a romantic encounter with Hercules." Finally, Ms. Lawless was directly quoted as saying, "Also, [Xena]'s too serious, I think. I wish they would make her a bit more funny. I have a sense of humor myself. I was raised on Monty Python and I can play a big goof, but Xena has to stand around and look grumpy while everyone else is having fun." REPRINT: Xena, Princess Warrior, is not to be trifled with. She can wipe out an entire army. In a recent episode of the series that bears her name, she turned a horde of macho military men into cowering dogs. She whacked them with her sword. She knocked weapons out of their hands with a flying metal thing that she throws like a Frisbee. She somersaulted over their horses and spun up into the air to deliver humbling head kicks. This "mighty princess forged in the heat of battle" is cleaning up a mythical Greek world threatened by tyrants, assassins, giants and wizards. She's also cleaning up in the ratings along with "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys." Played by New Zealand actor Lucy Lawless, Xena is the toughest woman on television and has a brass breastplate to prove it. The 31-year-old, 6-foot-tall beauty with icy blue eyes says playing Xena is a snap, especially for a woman who has hiked through Europe and worked in a gold mine. "You do a lot of crazy things when you're young," says Lawless in a telephone interview from New Zealand - as if playing someone tougher than Wonder Woman is a walk through the park. "I've always wanted to be an actress but it took me a while to get there," she says in her New Zealand "kiwi" accent. When she plays Xena, she drops the accent for a "more American sound." She also dyed her red hair black for the role. The character debuted as a villain in a trio of episodes during the first season of "Hercules." When Universal Studios asked for a spinoff, producers Rob Tapert and Sam Raimi ("Darkman," "American Gothic") decided to experiment. "There never has been a female hero like Xena," says Raimi. "We've made no effort to soften her. She's a reformed villain, an outcast who travels the same land as Hercules. She's not afraid to take on anyone or anything." The producers say feminists and chauvinists both like her - but probably for different reasons. Guys are attracted to the form-fitting leather outfits and cleavage while women respect her strength and courage, Raimi says. She also has attracted a gay and lesbian following because of her strength, the campy dialogue and her relationship with her little buddy, Gabrielle (Renee O'Connor), Raimi says. Gabrielle, smaller and blond, is Xena's adoring sidekick. Lawless jokes that she "will neither confirm or deny" Xena's sexual preference. But the series has shown former male lovers, including a romantic encounter with Hercules. Off-camera, Lawless is the divorced mother of a 7-year-old daughter, Daisy. The fifth of seven children, she performed in plays and musicals through high school in Auckland. She attended Auckland University, dropped out, and headed to Europe and then Australia, where she got married. Out of money, she and her husband worked briefly in an Australian gold mine. "It wasn't that bad and the money was great," she says. "There was some digging and lifting and it was either freezing cold or frighteningly hot. But I've always been a healthy, outdoor kind of person. We worked long enough to get enough cash to get us to Europe." After tramping around Europe awhile, she moved back to New Zealand and started working in TV commercials, then with a comedy troupe. She was working as the host of a TV travel show when she got the guest role on "Hercules." "New Zealand is very small, and just about every actor in the country has worked on "Hercules.' " Lawless says she enjoys the role even though the stunts are tiring and difficult. "Also, she's too serious, I think," she says. "I wish they would make her a bit more funny. I have a sense of humor myself. I was raised on Monty Python and I can play a big goof, but Xena has to stand around and look grumpy while everyone else is having fun. "I never thought I'd be an action star, but now they're going to make little Xena action figures for kids. I still want to be a fine actress one day; it's just a matter of putting in the time and passion." GRAPHIC: As "Xena: Princess Warrior," New Zealand actor Lucy Lawless is the toughest woman on television. The show's producers say feminists and chauvinists both like Xena - but for different reasons. Photos from MCA TV. [303] 05-25-96 through 05-28-96 NOTE: Passing mention of Xena in context to how the show contributed to the message that the only good people are sleek, well-toned, hard-bodied people. [303a] 05-25-96 THE COMMERCIAL APPEAL (Memphis). Appeal. Pg. 3C. 485 words. "'Nick News' teaches body acceptance" By Joanne Weintraub EXCERPT: Hour after hour, week after week, TV imparts to kids the clear message that good people come in one sleek shape, from the well-toned cuties of Friends and Melrose Place to the hard-bodied heroes of Xena and Hercules. Maybe it's a drop in the bucket, but for half an hour, The Body Trap (Wednesday night on Nickelodeon) will tell young viewers something different: that the shortest boy in the class and the girl who weighs 20 pounds more than her friends can be talented, lovable, active and attractive.... [303b] 05-28-96 ATLANTA JOURNAL AND CONSTITUTION. Features. 748 words. "Channel Surfer; AMC Offers Peculiar Perspective on Brando" By Bob Longino COMMENTARY: Reprint of XMR303a. [304] 05-27-96 through 06-03-96 NOTE: Two media reports on the L.A. Screenings where James McNamara, MCA's president of worldwide distribution, was quoted. ============ CUT HERE ================== Continued in Part 4